Disney CEO Bob Chapek To Host Parks-Focused Orlando Investor Event As Wall Street Turns To Business Amid Controversy
deadline.comDisney is set to welcome the Wall Street crowd to Orlando for two days next week at annual event that’s still a go, even after a corporate retreat was nixed amid swirling headlines.The meeting provides analysts and investors a deep dive into the booming theme parks business that, despite all the attention to streaming, is 30% of revenue and rebounding dramatically from Covid lows.The event comes as Disney continues to manage the fallout from its slow response to the Florida bill opponents have dubbed “Don’t Say Gay,” which Chapek has acknowledged was botched and apologized for.Disney is the state’s single largest employer.Domestic theme parks are roaring back (the division more than doubled sales last quarter, and a Walt Disney World tour will topline the Monday/Tuesday meeting) and the company is sticking to ambitious subscriber and profit targets for streaming.
Analysts Deadline spoke with don’t see the controversy being front and center at the meeting, which is focused on Disney Parks, Experiences & Products.
But some say they’re waiting for the CEO to hit his stride after the latest public-relations black eye that also prompted a wider debate about Disney’s corporate culture.“To expect that somebody can move into one of the most complicated CEO roles in the world during a global pandemic and get all A’s is probably not a reasonable expectation,” said Michael Morris of Guggenheim Partners. “On the other hand, when issues do arise, how you handle them does provide an indicator of your potential to be the right leader for the long term.”Kathleen Kennedy Cites Impact Of “Women, Artists Of Color And LGBTQ” On Industry Amid Disney “Don’t Say Gay” Backlash – PGA AwardsChapek took the top job back in February 2020 as Covid
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